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        <title>Real Estate Blog</title>
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            <guid>http://www.vanderbiltbeach.com/blog/high-tourism-growth-in-collier-county-florida.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.vanderbiltbeach.com/blog/high-tourism-growth-in-collier-county-florida.html</link>
            <author>info@naplesguru.com (Tim Ryan)</author>
            <title>High Tourism Growth in Collier County, Florida</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Tourism is an important economic factor for any country because this is one of the good sources of income for the economy. In other places, tourism is even one of the biggest contributors to the state or county’s overall income. This year, Collier County experienced significant growth in tourism income due to the increased number of visitors and vacationers in the county. According to the Research Data Services Inc. based in Tampa, Florida, visitors in Collier County increased 2.7% in July compared to last year’s number of visitors for the same month, and that is summing up to a total of 112,900 visitors. Most of the visitors stayed in vacation hotels and resorts.


With the great numbers of visitors for the month of July, the county gained more than $85 million income with the visitors spending directly about $57 million on vacation expenditures and activities. The total income gain is 6.5% higher compared to last year’s tourism performance for the month of July. The average rate for occupancy also increased about 3%. With the improvement in tourism performance, Collier County gained more than $770,000 tourist tax collections – higher than the projected amount of $670,000 for July. Overall, the county experienced growth in tourism of 4% wherein large portion came from bed tax.


Accommodations In Collier County


Some of the popular rental hotels and resorts in Collier County are Bellasera Hotel, Park Shore Resort, DiamondHead Beach Resort and Spa, Inn at Pelican Bay, and many more. Bellasera Hotel is one of the top options especially for family vacationers because this is the only luxury hotel in Naples that offers full home amenities and facilities. Each suite is equipped with fully equipped kitchens. Visitors can choose from 2-bedroom suites to 3-bedroom suites perfect for small to large families. The hotel is also complete with amenities from spa centers, swimming pools, boat rentals, golf course, restaurants, and concierge services.


For those who want to enjoy the beautiful beach of the Gulf of Mexico, spending a vacation in Marco Island is one of the common vacation destinations of visitors visiting Naples, Florida. Some of the most popular hotels and resorts in Marco Island are Holiday Inn Club Vacations, Marco Island Sunset Cover near Tigertail Beach, Marco Beach Ocean Resort, Marco Island Lakeside Inn near the Marco Town Center Mall, Marco Island Marriott Beach Resort with their own golf course, and The BoatHouse Motel suitable for those who have their own boat.


Home Developments And Real Estate Sales

When it comes of home development and sales, Collier County specifically in Naples, experienced great growth in real estate sales particularly for the month of April to September. The largest portion of the sales came from property sales in Marco Island, which include beachfront lots and condominium units. For those looking for permanent residence in Collier County, you will have wide options when it comes to home buying options from condominium residences, apartments, single-family homes, and multi-family homes within exclusive residential communities. If you love boating and you want the closest location to the beach, you can also choose from affordable and great residential communities near the Gulf of Mexico. ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Tue, 18 Sep 2012 16:47:00 -0400</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.vanderbiltbeach.com/blog/are-you-preventing-your-home-from-selling.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.vanderbiltbeach.com/blog/are-you-preventing-your-home-from-selling.html</link>
            <author>info@naplesguru.com (Tim Ryan)</author>
            <title>Are you preventing your home from selling? </title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Okay, the house down the street has sold, the one on the next block, and the one that went up on the market three days ago just sold.  Why is yours not?  There are many reasons that your home may not be selling like other homes in the area, and it may be that you are your own worst enemy (definitely where a real estate agent can help!).  There are reasons that may prevent your home from selling which may be an oversight of yours, so let’s look at what not do to so that your home sells!


The list of what not to do is definitely to the point, and if, when reading, you discover that it is something you are doing, than stop!


First, look at the selling price of your home.  Do you have it priced at fair market value?  If you’ve priced your home too high, then this could be the main factor in not being able to sell your home.  Here your real estate agent should be able to guide you.  Take a look at what homes in the area are selling and listed for and definitely have your home priced that is in the same ballpark and appealing to home buyers.  With the economy the way it is, home buyers are not going to purchase an over-priced home.


You’ll also want to make sure you’ve staged your home to sell.  Buyers look for homes that have been cared for and if they go to a home that hasn’t had the walls washed and fresh paint added, but instead has grime from years ago then they aren’t going to be a receptive buyer.  The shower should be rid of mold, the walls painted with fresh paint, and all repairs made.  A home that appears poorly maintained will not attract home buyers.


Before showing your home to a potential buyer, make sure the home is clean.  Vacuum, mop, wash and shine all areas of the home and organize its contents.  Make sure that the air is fresh, and the home inviting.


When showing the home, allow your realtor to show the home and allow the potential buyers to view the home without you there.  This is the best for both of you.  It is always a nice gesture to have something nice for the shoppers such as fresh baked cookies on the counter (which will definitely add to the sense of “this is home”). 


About the Author: Mike Pannell with Nu Home Source Realty - Dallas is one of the premier real estate companies in the Dallas Fort Worth Area. We offer professional end-to-end real estate services in the areas of Pre-Existing Homes, Brand New Homes, Lease-Rental homes, Credit Repair and all other associated real estate services.
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            <pubDate>Thu, 14 Jun 2012 16:27:51 -0400</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.vanderbiltbeach.com/blog/purchasing-and-trading-homes-via-mortgage-brokers-in-naples.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.vanderbiltbeach.com/blog/purchasing-and-trading-homes-via-mortgage-brokers-in-naples.html</link>
            <author>info@naplesguru.com (Tim Ryan)</author>
            <title>Purchasing and Trading Homes via Mortgage Brokers in Naples</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Most individuals have a dream of purchasing their own home, but accomplishing that dream isn’t always easy. Lenders often consider a lot of things while going through your application for a mortgage loan. Apart from your credit history, they also scrutinize your monthly earnings, expenditure, home value and down payment. Moreover, buyers need to look for lenders who can provide them with easy finance at the cheapest rate possible.


However, buying or trading houses is no more a tiresome work at hand. These days, mortgage brokers have eased up the process of obtaining a suitable mortgage. All that a purchaser needs to do is to get in touch with a mortgage broker, let him know about the requirement of a home, and ask him to seek a suitable lender who would be able to provide him cash at the lowest possible rate. A mortgage broker prepares a list of all the lenders, the net amount of loan they’re ready to provide, and at what interest rate. They aid purchasers in finding out the exact lenders as per their needs, in exchange for a particular fees asked by them. For this, purchasers may also take help of banks, but owing to their disappointment with the policies of banks or any other financial institution, go to mortgage brokers to perform this job for them.


If you’re a citizen of Naples and in need of a mortgage loan, mortgage brokers in Naples can easily help you obtain your loan amount from the lender. Brokers first discover the sum to be borrowed, the repayment procedure, and the time for reimbursement which the buyer is comfortable with. They then provide the particulars to the lenders and obtain the best arrangement from the most fitting lender. Additionally, they take up the job of establishing the credit worthiness of the purchasers to the lenders.


However, customers are charged a specific amount for the service provided by them. The amount is settled on, before the signing of the contract between the buyer of the house and the mortgage broker. It is normally a fraction from the net amount rented for purchasing the home. The brokers are endowed with the total responsibility of seeking the most appropriate loan proposal of the terms provided by the consumer. If the broker gets the purchaser a loan that doesn’t meet any of his requirements, he might be held accountable for it. The brokers in Naples have access to a large number of lenders and provide personalized services to home purchasers. They make sure that you recveive the best loan program and the best mortgage rate possible. Naples is home to scenic beauty and thus has a huge demand for homes, which is met by the Naples mortgage brokers who aid purchasers in acquiring funds as per their requirements.


Brokers are a blessing to home purchasers who fail to find the best agreement with lenders in their state or even in purchasing homes in other parts of the nation. However, one needs to search for a trustworthy broker who would ask for a reasonable amount of brokerage and simultaneously obtain deals for purchasers of the kind pledged to them. 


 
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            <pubDate>Wed, 21 Mar 2012 14:02:40 -0400</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.vanderbiltbeach.com/blog/search-for-your-new-home-online-stay-in-your-pajamas.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.vanderbiltbeach.com/blog/search-for-your-new-home-online-stay-in-your-pajamas.html</link>
            <author>info@naplesguru.com (Tim Ryan)</author>
            <title>Search for Your New Home Online, Stay in Your Pajamas</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ Nearly 90% of home buyers decide to stay in their pajamas and search for homes online – which is a great way to do it. Searching for homes online has a number of different benefits, especially if you know how to work through the system. Below are some tips for starting your home search online, and how to weed out what won't work.

 


Pick Your Area


If you're looking to relocate further away from where you are now, such as moving to a new state, you'll want to pick not only realtors in that area (more on that later), but you'll want to research the area fully. Find out about property taxes, cultural changes, area schools, and what the neighborhoods are like. Don't just look at house sites – use informational sites like City Data – to help you find your ideal location.


Choose an Agent


When you're looking for a new home, it's good to browse what's available online for listings, but there's one little issue – not all of the listings are online. Sometimes, there are hidden gems that the local real estate agent has that they don't offer online. Find a real estate agent in the area that you like, and sign up with him or her to have them send you listings by email.


Get Pre-Approved


If you're serious about finding a new home, find an online lender and get pre-approved for what you can afford. Let your budget and projected budget guide you on what you can afford, rather than how much you can qualify for with a standard loan. Remember, just because you're pre-approved for $450,000 doesn't mean you can afford a $450,000 mortgage. Stick with a budget that works for you, and do your online shopping. Once you've found your dream home that fits your budget – or a few different dream homes that fit your budget – then you can change out of your pajamas and leave the house for a closer look.


You really can do all of this online, and never have to leave your home until you're ready to see the properties you've added to your favorites up close and personal. Working with a reliable buyer's agent can help immensely in your search for your new dream house, and looking around online can give you some ideas on what you would like to afford and what you can actually afford. Use the time you search for your new home online to investigate the neighborhoods where the properties are as well, so you can get a feel for where you want to be. 


About The Author: Kevin Hughes is a BoiseIdahorealestate agent servicing buyers and sellers in Idaho. If you’re looking for a great home in Idaho, you can visit Kevin’s website where you can search great cities likeBoise,Meridian,Nampa, andEagle.


Authored byKevinHughes
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Thu, 16 Feb 2012 15:47:58 -0500</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.vanderbiltbeach.com/blog/5-tips-for-marketing-your-home-for-sale.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.vanderbiltbeach.com/blog/5-tips-for-marketing-your-home-for-sale.html</link>
            <author>info@naplesguru.com (Tim Ryan)</author>
            <title>5 Tips for Marketing Your Home for Sale</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
In today’s housing market, putting effective marketing strategies to work has never been more important. With so many Naples homes available, finding ways to make your home stand out amongst the crowd is essential. Whether selling Naples waterfront homes or Denver condos, implementing these 5 marketing tips will give your home the best chance of getting sold within a reasonable amount of time and at a fair price.


Tip #1: Staging


The first step in successfully marketing a home is staging. Staging involves decorating the home in a way that will be inviting and welcoming to the largest number of potential buyers. When staging a home, you should remove personal items and any other belongings that may prevent the buyer from “seeing” himself living in your home. Similarly, you should take steps to make your home appealing by removing clutter, rearranging furniture and adding the small touches that bring a home to life, such as placing a vase filled with flowers in the center of the kitchen table.


Tip #2: Hire a Professional to Take Pictures


Pictures truly do speak a thousand words in the world of real estate. Many potential buyers will not even bother to go see a home if they cannot see pictures first. Furthermore, most make an instant judgment after seeing photos of a home, so you want to be sure these pictures cast your home in the most favorable light possible. Hiring a professional photographer is the best way to get this job done.


Tip #3: Create a Virtual Tour


Many of today’s home buyers are interested in more than just pictures. Rather, they want to be able to tour your house without ever needing to leave their home. You can make this possible with the help of a virtual tour. A virtual allows the potential buyer to see the inside of your home at a 360 degree vantage point.


Tip #4: Use the Internet In today’s market, the Internet is the easiest and most effective way to give a property the exposure it needs to get sold. Not only can sellers post a virtually unlimited number of photos and virtual tours on the Internet, but buyers can literally view hundreds of homes in just one day. If you don’t want to get beat out by the competition, placing your property online is a must.


Tip #5: Set the Right Price


Of course, it doesn’t matter how much exposure your home receives or how great your pictures are, setting the wrong price is a surefire way to keep your home on the market for a very long time. While it may seem logical to set a higher price so you have some bargaining room, the reality is that a home that is priced too high will sit on the market with little to know interest. Not only will you price your home out of the range of serious buyers who may otherwise be interested, but many real estate agents won’t even show a home if they know it is priced too high. So, set a reasonable price and give your home the best chance of getting sold.


About The Author - Brian Kinkade specializes in Art House Condos Denver and other Denver luxury condos as a Realtor with The Home Cart.
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Sat, 28 Jan 2012 02:45:25 -0500</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.vanderbiltbeach.com/blog/5-simple-ways-to-stage-your-home.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.vanderbiltbeach.com/blog/5-simple-ways-to-stage-your-home.html</link>
            <author>info@naplesguru.com (Tim Ryan)</author>
            <title>5 Simple Ways to Stage Your Home</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Aside from making the necessary repairs and upgrades, staging your home is one of the most important steps you can take toward getting it sold. Whether selling Maryland luxury homes or Naples real estate, this step is critical. With the help of the proper staging techniques, you can turn your house into a home that is warm, welcoming and inviting to potential buyers. By making it easy for buyers to envision themselves living in your house and creating fond memories, you will have won half the battle toward winning over buyers and making a positive, long-lasting impression. Even better, a home can be properly staged at little to know cost. In fact, here is a look at 5 free or inexpensive ways to stage your home.


Clean Up the Clutter


Perhaps the easiest way to stage your home is to clean up all of the clutter. This doesn’t just mean cleaning up messes, however, as clutter can also come in the form of too much furniture and disorganization. If your rooms are crammed full with furniture and other items, consider putting them away in storage until your house is sold. Otherwise, your home will appear small and cramped to potential buyers.


Add a Bit of Life


Another simple way to stage a home is to add a flower vase on the kitchen table and anywhere else where flowers may be appropriate. Not only will this add a splash of color to the inside of your home, it also creates a welcoming and cheerful atmosphere. Of course, the pleasant aroma given off by flowers will also help imprint positive memories in the minds of potential buyers. It is also a good idea to take this same theme outdoors. By simply adding a couple potted plants outside of your entryway, you will add to your home’s curb appeal while also creating a welcoming appearance.


Let There Be Light


Finding ways to brighten up the inside of your home will not only make your home appear larger and more attractive, but it will also help with creating a bright and cheerful feeling. To further assist with this endeavor, open up the shades and curtains so the natural light can enter. Just be sure the home remains properly cooled if it is located in an area with a hot climate or if you are showing the property on a hot day.


The Smells of Home


The sense of smell is quite possibly the most powerful of our five senses. Finding ways to associate your home with positive scents is an excellent way to stage your home, but you have to be careful to avoid going overboard. Scented candles can be beneficial, or you may want to consider baking fresh cookies or an apple pie. The smell will linger and you can even offer to share some with potential buyers when they come for a viewing.


Make it About the Buyer


Perhaps the single most important thing you can do when staging a home is to depersonalize each room. To do this, you will need to remove personal mementoes, family photos and anything else that will remind the buyer that this house is currently your home. After all, you want the buyer to see himself living in the house. If the house is filled with your personal items, it will make it difficult for the buyer to envision anyone other than you living in the home.


About The Author - Kevin Koitz specializes in luxury Maryland real estate, such as 22 West Condos, as Realtor for the Koitz Group in the Washington DC area.
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            <pubDate>Mon, 19 Dec 2011 14:10:20 -0500</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.vanderbiltbeach.com/blog/the-housing-market-cycle.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.vanderbiltbeach.com/blog/the-housing-market-cycle.html</link>
            <author>info@naplesguru.com (Tim Ryan)</author>
            <title>The Housing Market Cycle</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Growth and Recession


During times of growth, the economy is chugging along and consumers feel good about what is ahead financially. Because they are confident in their job or the stock market, people spend money. This is noticeable in good times because there are lots of new cars on the road with dealer stickers, restaurants are full, and the real estate business is booming!


Then, for whatever reason, things start to change. A downturn for companies could mean layoffs, and the confidence starts to erode. People begin holding onto their money and the economy starts winding down. Thus begins a recession. During periods of recession, like we are in now, a big thing that lags is home sales, and in some cases, foreclosures and short sales rise as some homeowners find themselves in a precarious position with their mortgage.


Both of these extremes illustrate the various points in the market cycle. What comes along with all of this is a buyer or seller’s market and of course an area in between. It all goes back to good old economics; supply and demand. Economists say that a balanced market is reflected when there is 6 months worth of inventory, i.e. if no new listings came on the market, every existing listing would be sold in 6 months at the current rate of sales. Less than 6 months is considered a seller’s market, and greater than 6 months is considered a buyer’s market. 


Timing


It is not often that people have the time or luxury of planning their home purchase around these ebbs and flows in the economy, but even if they did, it would be a bit tricky as predicting the future of the housing market is tough even for the pros. What makes it tricky is that the housing market has never historically moved in sync with the stock market or the economy as a whole.


Interest rates are a key factor. When the economy is up, interest rates rise. The result is that monthly payments are now less affordable for most people. Then, when the economy slows down and the interest rates fall, more people can afford houses, but the economy is struggling.


As you can see, there is a bit of a seesaw effect that is difficult to predict. Because of this, it is not a popular option to time your purchase based on the market as a whole. The best thing to do is save for a down payment and think about where you want to be for the next several years. If all is going well, you can plan on using a buy and hold strategy, i.e. buy your property and plan to keep it for at least 7 years. 


Should you wait?


First time homebuyers are really the only people that can wait to time their purchase with the economy. The reason being that most other buyers would also have a home to sell in order to be able to buy.


Following that logic, if buying in a down market is good for buyers, it is bad for sellers, so if you have to sell to buy, you would likely be taking a hit on the selling side. But, here’s another twist. Let’s say the market is down 10% and you have to sell in order to buy your move-up house.


Taking 10% off your existing house that’s worth $130,000 versus taking 10% off your move-up house that’s $300,000 still puts you ahead of the game.


So all in all, the timing of home buying is for all intents and purposes a decision best guided by personal circumstances rather than the economy on the whole. Of course outside data is a factor, but when it works for you is when it is best.


About The Author: Kimberley Kelly is a real estate agent working out of the Palm Springs Valley servicing home buyers and seller interested in Real Estate for sale in Palm Springs. Some of her work areas including La Quinta where she helps home buyers buy and sellers sell their La Quinta California homes. If you're looking to get away, check out some of the spectacular vacation rentals on Kim's website in the Palm Desert CA real estate market.
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            <pubDate>Sun, 20 Nov 2011 15:13:42 -0500</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.vanderbiltbeach.com/blog/welcome-to-vanderbiltbeachcom.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.vanderbiltbeach.com/blog/welcome-to-vanderbiltbeachcom.html</link>
            <author>info@naplesguru.com (Tim Ryan)</author>
            <title>Welcome to VanderbiltBeach.com</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ Welcome to your portal to finding a dream home in Vanderbilt Beach Naples, Florida. Browse communities or search for a home or condo with your peronalized criteria. ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Mon, 18 Jul 2011 15:39:17 -0400</pubDate>
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